Peninsula Daily News news sources
TORONTO — Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro reached the 200-hits mark for the 10th straight year today with a fifth inning single to center against Toronto Blue Jays starter Shawn Hill.
Ichiro, 36, who entered the game with 198 hits, struck out in the first inning and doubled in the third inning. He grounded out to pitcher in the seventh inning.
He is the only player in major league history to get 200 hits in 10 straight seasons, and now holds the American League record for most 200-hit seasons. He surpasses Ty Cobb, who had nine in 24 seasons for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Athletics.
Pete Rose reached the mark 10 times – but not consecutively – in 24 National League seasons for the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies.
Ichiro, who set the major league record for hits in a season in 2004 with 262, joined the Mariners in 2001 and had 242 hits in his first season. He entered Thursday’s game hitting .314.
Ichiro got a standing ovation from the small crowd at Rogers Centre in Toronto. He tipped his helmet to the applause after about 30 seconds.
He now has 2,230 career hits in 9-plus seasons — 1,813 singles, 256 doubles, 71 triples and 90 home runs.
